The best breakfast and brunch places in and around downtown Indianapolis

Whether prepping for a day at the office, an event at the Convention Center or shopping downtown, a good meal to start the day is key.

Eggs, pork belly, beignets and chilaquiles are on the menus of some of the best breakfast and brunch spots in the heart of the city.

Here are some of the best restaurants to get your day started around downtown Indianapolis.

Café Patachou on Washington and at The Stutz

 225 W. Washington St., 317-632-0765; 1060 N. Capitol Ave., (317) 222-3538, cafepatachou.com

The speedy service makes one wonder what manner of sorcery is about in the kitchen. You can get croissant French toast with an absurd (no complaints) amount of pecans from its all-day breakfast menu within five minutes of ordering.

Conner's Kitchen and Bar

350 W. Maryland St., 317-405-6100, connersindy.com

You'll find a mix of familiar staples and creative twists at this downtown eatery, where crispy bacon and avocado toast join loaded breakfast nachos and lemon buttermilk pancakes. Breakfast is served Monday through Friday, while the brunch menu highlights the weekends.

English Ivy’s

 944 N. Alabama St., 317-822-5070, englishivys.com

The St. Joseph neighborhood bar and eatery will offer its usual Sunday brunch menu Mother's Day, including build-your-own omelets ($12), chicken and waffles ($12) and other breakfast staples alongside several different drinks.

Foundry Provisions

236 E. 16th St., 317- 543-7357,  foundryprovisions.com

This Herron-Morton neighborhood coffee shop does made-to-order grilled sandwiches using local products and has a grab-and-go case for those on the run.

Its standout breakfast sandwich, a toasted herbed scrambled egg, cheddar and provolone on brioche, is available all day. Also, there's ice cream.

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Gallery Pastry restaurants

The three restaurants in the Gallery Pastry Shop family are known for breakfast and brunch. The original Gallery Pastry Shop, which has moved to 4573 N. College Ave., gained a reputation for its brunch and mimosas.

The brunch menu at Gallery Pastry Bar (110 S. Pennsylvania St.) in the Wholesale District,includes salmon, ribeye and a burger with foie gras mousse. But traditional breakfast items should not be overlooked: in particular, a sandwich of bacon, fried smashed potatoes and two eggs.

You'll find similar fare at Gallery on 16th (319 E. 16th St.) in Old Northside, with a few twists like a fried chicken croissant sandwich and a roasted artichoke omelet.

Garden Table

342 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, 317-638-0321, thegardentable.com

A farm-to-table breakfast and brunch menu and fresh-pressed juices are the highlights of this popular family-friendly spot. Its chilaquiles features black beans, salsa verde-tossed, sunny egg, avocado, queso fresco and cilantro lime crema over light and crispy corn tortilla chips.

Le Peep

301 N. Illinois St., 317-237-3447, lepeepindy.com

The Aspen, Colorado-based chain is as classic as it comes with Americana breakfast fare like steak and eggs, chicken and waffles and biscuits and gravy. Nonetheless, you'll find a few curveballs like salmon scrambled eggs.

Leviathan Bakehouse

1101 N. College Ave., Indianapolis, 317-493-1879, leviathanbakehouse.com

Plenty of pastries and desserts call out at this Pete Schmutte-led shop. But the eatery features a croissant breakfast sandwich with ham, smoked bacon, smoked Gruyere cheese and shallot baked eggs with a mild salsa verde. Another standout, the jambon beurre sandwich of ham and European-style butter on a baguette, comes with a side of grain salad.

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Lincoln Square Pancake House

 613 W. 11th St., Indianapolis, 317-986-7565 and 150 W. Market St., 317-343-9705, eatatlincolnsquare.com

Pancakes, of course, rule here, but there is a good amount of omelets, skillets and breakfast sandwiches.  And it would be a shame to skip the glorious Nutella crepes that come with copious amounts of chocolate hazelnut spread, strawberries and bananas.

Love Handle

877 Massachusetts Ave., 317- 384-1102, facebook.com/lovehandleindy

We love options. And this comfort food breakfast and lunch spot has lots of them. Choose to top your egg and waffle here with juicy boneless fried chicken thighs, pork belly or fried fish.

Milktooth

534 Virginia Ave., 317-986-5131, milktoothindy.com

Open only Friday through Monday, this Fletcher Place restaurant features a signature grilled cheese (smoked gouda, apricot bread, triple cream cheese, duck egg and truffled beet molasses) that is every bit as good as you’ve heard.  But you also can't go wrong with a sweet Dutch baby pancake or whatever flavor of beignet is being served.

Spoke and Steele

123 S. Illinois St., 317-737-1616, spokeandsteele.com

Located inside Le Méridien, this swanky upscale eatery offers a classic breakfast and brunch menu with buttermilk pancakes and berry-stuffed French toast. Chef features include Cajun shrimp and smoked gouda grits, plus a ribeye hash with caramelized onions, potatoes and a smoked yogurt topping.

The Oakmont

323 N. Delaware St., 317-746-6097, theoakmontindy.com

Munch on fried deviled eggs and crispy garlic truffle fries while the DJ spins techno and house at the weekend brunch here.  The huge build-your-own pancake board, with pancakes, bacon and toppings (cinnamon sugar butter, fresh berries, chocolate, candied pecans and Nutella) is an attention-getter for sure.

Wild Eggs

314 N. Delaware St., 317-744-8283, wildeggs.com

Upscale twists on classic staples adorn the menu at this Louisville, Kentucky-based chain. Bruschetta-topped and balsamic-glazed avocado toast joins shrimp etouffee and grits, a chicken cordon bleu skillet and a bourbon latte to wash it down.

Yolk

111 Monument Circle, 317-983-3222 and 220 E. South St., 317-632-9655, eatyolk.com

This Chicago-based breakfast and brunch spot is, predictably, very egg-forward. Five-egg omelets and multiple eggs Benedict dishes join pancakes, French toast and other sweet treats.

Is there a brunch or breakfast spot you love downtown? Let us know!

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at [email protected] or 317-444-6264. Follow her on Twitter/X: @cherylvjackson.

Contact Bradley Hohulin at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter/X @bradleyhohulin.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Best places to get breakfast and brunch in downtown Indianapolis